What Happened in the Original “Gladiator”? 8 Key Moments to Know Before Watching the New Movie — Including Who Survived the First Film

Before watching ‘Gladiator II,' here’s a recap of all the biggest moments from the first film

Ridley Scott’s 2000 film Gladiator was a sensational tale of honor and betrayal in the ancient Roman empire.

In the film, Rome’s dying emperor Marcus Aurelius fears that his son Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix) is unfit to succeed him because of his immaturity, rage and selfishness. Instead, Aurelius believes that the new emperor of Rome should be Maximus Decimus Meridius (Russell Crowe), one of his generals who is an expert fighter but also a humble person who wants what’s best for Rome.

Enraged by his father’s decision, Commodus kills him and claims himself Emperor. The new leader of Rome also arranges to have Maximus and his family killed, but the general escapes and begins his journey as a gladiator, an enslaved person who fights others to the death for the entertainment of Romans.

The movie was a smash hit at the box office, earning around $465 million and becoming one of the most talked about films of the year. Gladiator also scored 12 Oscar nominations and five wins, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Crowe.

Now, 24 years after the original film, Scott has returned to direct Gladiator II, which sees a new group of gladiators fight for their lives in the Colosseum. Much like the original film, the sequel — which stars Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal and Denzel Washington — also centers on political corruption and scandal.

Here’s everything to know about the original Gladiator before seeing its sequel, Gladiator II.

Maximus was the rightful heir to the Roman Empire

Gladiator’s opening scene sees Maximus and his army fighting a battle in Germania. After their victory, Maximus is met by Emperor Aurelius who tells him that when he dies, he wants Maximus to succeed him as Emperor instead of his son Commodus. “I want you to become the protector of Rome after I die,” Aurelius says.

Initially, Maximus refuses, due to his intense desire to return home after years away and believing he doesn’t have the political knowledge needed to become an emperor. But Maximus' humility is exactly why Aurelius wants him to take over.

“You have not been corrupted by the politics,” the emperor says.

Commodus kills Aurelius to become Emperor

Aurelius was right to distrust his son, because once Commodus learns that he’s not going to become emperor, he suffocates his father to death and announces himself the empire’s new ruler.

To ensure that Maximus can’t challenge him, he arranges to have him transported to the woods and killed in secret. He also tells his men to kill Maximus’ wife and son, who the general so desperately wanted to return to after colonizing Germania.

Maximus escapes but is later captured and becomes a gladiator

Maximus escapes his execution and he races home to try and save his wife and son, but he arrives too late.

The shock and trauma of seeing his family crucified is too much to bear and Maximus blacks out. When he awakens, he finds that he’s been kidnapped and is being sold into slavery to fight as a gladiator.

Maximus quickly rises as a top gladiator thanks to his combat skills

With his history as a general, Maximus excels as a gladiator and wins every battle. As he becomes more notable for his combat skills, an opportunity arises for him to fight at the Colosseum in Rome.

Maximus is excited at the opportunity because he hopes that it will give him a chance to seek revenge against Commodus.

Once there, Maximus, who becomes known as the Spaniard, unites the other gladiators together to increase their odds of survival in the ring. His community-minded spirit quickly earns him many fans and a lot of power.

Commodus lusts for his sister Lucilla and envies her son Lucius

Now leading as emperor, Commodus is overcome with power and feels he has the right to anything and anyone he wants – including his sister Lucilla (Connie Nielsen). Ever since they were young, Commodus has lusted after his sister, and now that he is emperor, he feels like he can finally have her. The new emperor also wants to take her son Lucius and treat him as his own, and demands that Lucilla provide him a child of “pure blood."

A grown-up version of Lucilla’s son Lucius is at the center of Gladiator II, played by Paul Mescal.

Lucilla forms an alliance with Maximus

Like Maximus, Lucilla also believes in justice for the people. She also deeply fears what her brother is capable of and wonders how safe her son Lucius will be with him on the throne.

By setting up secret meetings with senators and relaying information to allies, Lucilla tries to help Maximus as much as she can, while still making Commodus believe she’s loyal to him. Soon after securing a plan for Maximus to escape, Lucius accidentally betrays his mother and Commodus learns of her connection with and support of the gladiator.

In the final match, Maximus and Commodus have a duel in the Colosseum

At the end of Gladiator, Commodus challenges Maximus to a duel, with the winner claiming Rome as his prize. But knowing that he doesn’t stand a chance against Maximus, Commodus stabs him in the back (literally) just before the battle, hindering Maximus’ fighting ability.

In the end, Maximus is still able to outmaneuver and overpower Commodus, ultimately killing him and claiming victory. But just moments later, Maximus dies from his injury. Luckily, Commodus’ death still means that Rome will be free of his tyranny and Maximus dies a hero.

Rome is returned to the people

The ending of Gladiator is ambiguous. At the end of the film, it’s never explicitly stated who will become the new emperor of Rome, but in the final scene, Lucilla takes control and demands that Rome honor Maximus as a fallen soldier.

As Commodus lies dead and unlauded, Maximus proclaims that the rest of the gladiators must be freed and Senator Gracchus should be reinstated, ultimately fulfilling the last wish of Emperor Aurelius.

Maximus' last words are "Lucius is safe" teeing up the film's sequel, Gladiator II.